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CHAPTER XXX

The law concerning vows of men, 1, 2. Of women under age, and in what cases the father may annul them, 3-5. The vows of a wife, and in what cases the husband may annul them, 6-8. The vows of a widow, or divorced woman, in what cases they may be considered either as confirmed or annulled, 9-15. Recapitulation of these ordinances, 16.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXX

Verse 2. "If a man vow a vow" - A vow is a religious promise made to God. Vows were of several kinds:-

1. Of abstinence or humiliation, see ver. 13; 2. Of the Nazarite, see chap. vi.; 3. Of giving certain things or sacrifices to the Lord, Lev. vii. 16; 4. Of alms given to the poor, see Deut. xxiii. 21.

The law in this chapter must have been very useful, as it both prevented and annulled rash vows, and provided a proper sanction for the support and performance of those that were rationally and piously made. Besides, this law must have acted as a great preventive of lying and hypocrisy. If a vow was properly made, a man or woman was bound, under penalty of the displeasure of God, to fulfill it.

Verse 3. "In her youth" - That is, say the rabbins, under twelve years of age; and under thirteen in case of a young man. Young persons of this age were considered to be under the authority of their parents, and had consequently no power to vow away the property of another. A married woman was in the same circumstances, because she was under the authority of her husband. If however the parents or the husband heard of the vow, and objected to it in the same day in which they heard of it, (ver.

5,) then the vow was annulled; or, if having heard of it, they held their peace, this was considered a ratification of the vow.

A rash vow was never to be kept; "for," says Philo, and common sense and justice say the same, "he who commits an unjust action because of his vow adds one crime to another, 1. By making an unlawful vow; 2. By doing an unlawful action."

Verse 12. "Concerning the bond of her soul" - Her life is at stake if she fulfill not the obligation under which she has laid herself.

Verse 16. "These are the statutes" - It is very probable that this law, like that concerning the succession of daughters, (chap. 27.,) rose from the exigency of some particular case that had just then occurred.